Baseball Drops 12-10 Decision To UNC Greensboro

GREENSBORO, N.C. - UNCG used a pair of five-run innings to jump out to a 10-3 lead, but managed to hold off a late inning George Washington rally and held on for a 12-10 victory college baseball action from UNCG Baseball Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Spartans up its record to 3-0, while the Colonials fall to 1-2.

"This was by far our best day of hitting yet this season," said head coach Mike Gaski. "They pitched us away and went hit the other way. We got alot of our big hits to the opposite field. Hitting to the opposite field sounds simple, but it is not and today we were very successful to all parts of the field."

For the second time in three games, UNCG fell behind early. George Washington jumped out to a 2-0 lead with two runs in the second, but the Spartans tallied five in the bottom of the second. After Craig Whalen led off the inning with a walk, Nick Lockhart doubled and Jesse Martin followed with a RBI single. Justin Lee the singled to score Lockhart. Jason Sarvis the reached base of a fielder's choice and reached second on a throwing error by Colonials starting pitcher Jason Baker. Lee and Martin both scored. Kirk Strebin ended the five-run rally with a RBI triple.

With the 10-3 lead, it appeared the game was over, but George Washington felt otherwise. The Colonials added three in the fifth and three more in the eighth to cut the gap to a pair, but could not come all the way back.

Lee, who started the five-run rally in the fourth inning as well with a double down the right field line, finished the day with three hits and went 3-for-4 with a double, three runs scored and a RBI.

"Justin has worked real hard the past two years and its has begun to pay off," said Gaski. "He put together five good at-bats today."

Justin Saltalamacchia (2-for-5) registered another two hit performance and added a pair of RBI and two runs scored. Nick Lockhart, who extended his consecutive games with a hit to 13, ripped two doubles, scored a run and drove in a pair. Strebin added three RBI with a run scoring triple, sacrifice fly and bases loaded walk.

For the first time this season, the Spartans pitching mound struggled, but did manage to make some big pitches in key situations. UNCG starter Aaron Horne, who made his first start since the 2000 Southern Conference Tournamant, struggled and was tagged with three earned runs and seven hits in just 2.2 innings. Matt Tomlin, who also missed last season to injury, made his season debut, but also yielded three runs, all earned, in just 1.2 innings.

"We saw today what can happen with guys that have not pitched too much," said Gaski. "They definitely got their cleats dirty and really pitched ok, but that comes with inexperience."

Despite the struggles, redshirt Michael Gulledge was a bright spot. Gulledge tossed a scoreless 1.1 innings and gave up just one hit to register the win. Gulledge walked one and struck out two. Scooter Michael went the final 2.1 and gave up three runs, including a two-run homer, but retired George Washington 1-2-3 in the ninth to register the save.